Method for imparting durable lusterized finish to fabric



Jan. 20, 1959 WfRIM lNTYRE 2,870,038

METHOD FOR IMPARTING' DURABLE LUSTERIZED FINISH TO' FABRIC Filed 001:.1a, 1954 2 SheetsSheet 1 a: Ill E Q 3 RESIN IMPREG.

A TTOIPNEYS Jan. 20, 1959 w. R, M lNTYRE 2,870,033

METHOD FOR IMPARTIN'G' DURABLE LUSTERIYZED FINISH TO FABRIC Filed Oct.18. 1954 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 T0 CURER n rox/vzva METHOD FOR IMPARTINGDURABLE LUSTERIZED FINISH T FABRIC William Ralph Maclntyre, Wilmington,Del., assignor to Joseph Bancroft & Sons Company, Wilmington, Del., acorporation of Delaware Application October 18, 1954, Serial No. 462,831

4 Claims. (Cl. 117-11) This invention relates to fabric finishings andis concerned with a novel method for imparting what may be termed asubdued or subtle luster finish effect to one or both surfaces of atextile fabric.

Briefly described, the method of the invention comprises the steps ofapplying to the fabric an aqueous solution of an impregnant capable offixing the finish effect to be imparted thereto upon heating of theimpregnated fabric, drying the impregnated fabric to a moist condition,imparting the lusterized surface finish effect to the moist fabric in aspecial manner described more fully hereinafter, and thereafter heatingthe fabric to fix the finish effect.

'According to the present invention, the finish effect is imparted tothe fabric by feeding the fabric to a carrier blanket which serves tocarry the fabric to and in contact with the external surface of a dryingdrum. Various forms of equipment of this general kind incorporating acarrier blanket are'known and used in the textile industry for purposesof effecting compressive shrinkage. However, for the purposes of thepresent invention it is important that certain operating conditions beestablished within certain ranges, notably the pressure exerted by theblanket against the drying drum (which also determines the pressure ofengagement of the fabric with the drum surface), and the temperature ofthe drying drum.

7 I have found that when observing the operating conditions referred toabove and by subsequently heating the fabric to set or cure theimpregnant, a subtle or subdued luster finish effect is imparted tothefabric and such effect is rendered highly durable.

Several embodiments of apparatus and variations of the method aredescribed more specifically hereinafter with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic viewillustrating one form of equipment usable in the practice of theinvention'and further illustrating in a schematic manner the severalsteps of'treatment contemplated according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view of certain portions of the equipmentincorporated in the embodiment of Figure 1; V

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of a second embodiment of equipment forpracticing the invention; and

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of a third embodiment of equipment forpracticing the invention.

In connection with all three embodiments, it is mentioned that the formsof equipment diagrammatically illustrated in the several figures arerepresentative of types of equipment incorporating carrier blanketscommonly usedfor the purpose of effecting compressive shrinkageof'fabrics. It is possible according to the invention to concurrentlyeffect at least some shrinkage while at the same time imparting thedurable lusterized effect herein contemplated; However, the preferredextent of lusterization is achieved with operating conditions,adjustments, and variations of the equipment itself which will result inlittle, if any, compressive shrinkage; and, in

United States Patent 0 "i e Patented Jan. 20, 1959 accordance withanother aspect of the invention, it is contemplated that the fabricfirst be passed through the equipment under the operating conditions andadjustments eifectinglittle, if any, shrinkage, and after curing of thefabric the fabric be passed again through the same or similar equipmentunder operating conditions and adjustments adapted to effect appreciablecompressive shrinkage.

Y to a moist condition. The fabric is then delivered to thecarrier'blanket and the associated equipment for imparting the luster,after which it passes through a curer 6 being ultimately rolled up asindicated at 7.

Since the equipment here used for imparting the luster may be of a typeknown per se, it is not illustrated in detail herein; However, it ispointed out that a typical machine of this kind includes a carrierblanket 8 traveling in a closed circuit and having a sharply curved runestablished by a supporting roll 9, from which the blanket passes aroundthe periphery of a large diameter drying drum 10. The blanket isdelivered from the drum over thelroll 11 and then passes over a blanketdrying drum 12, from which it returns over suitable guides to thesupporting roll 9. For the purpose of maintaining tension in the blanketone of the guide rolls therefor, for instance one of the rollsimmediately adjacent the drum 12, is adjustably mounted and preferablybiased by weights, so as to tighten the blanket. In this way tension isset up in the blanket and blanket pressure against the drum 10isestablished.

' A guide 13 serves to deliver the fabric to the blanket at the start ofthe curved run around the blanket supporting roll 9, from which thefabric passes around the drum with the blanket 8 in a positioninterposed between the drum and the blanket. A guide 14 provides fordelivery of the fabric away from the blanket and drum, for independenttravel to the fabric curer6. In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 one ormore pressure shoes 15 arearranged to engage the fabric as it passeswith the blanket in the sharply curved run established by the roll 9.While such shoes need not necessarily be used, as will appear from thedescription of the embodiment of Figure 3, where the shoes are used,they are preferably arranged so that the toe of such shoe or shoes,asindicated at 16 in Figure 2, extends around the run of the blanketover the roll 9 substantially all the way to the point of delivery ofthe and are preferably employed to heat the shoes to a substantialtemperature, say from about 300 F. to about l drum be observed. Thus thepressure of the blanket against the drum should be of the order of from3.5 ounces to 3 lbs. per square inch, and the drying drum temperatureshould be of the order of 230 F. to 300 The desired pressure may beestablished by appro priate weight of the adjustable blanket-guide rollabove mentioned, and the desired drum temperature may be established byregulating the pressure of heating steam supplied to the drum. Somevariation of the extent of lusterization may be effected by varying thepressure and temperature within the limits just referred to; and thepressure and temperature selected may also vary somewhat according tothe nature of the fabric and also the nature of the impregnant appliedto the fabric.

It will be understood that the heating effect resulting from passage ofthe fabric in contact with the drying drumwill ordinarily result inlittle, if any, actual curing, the curing of the impregnated fabricbeing effected subsequently in order to fix the luster effect, as byheating in a curer or oven, in which the temperature of the fabric maybe raised to from about 260 F. to 400 F. for a period of about 1 minuteto about 100 minutes. The higher temperatures, of course, require theshorter time.

Fabrics of a variety of types may be treated accord ing to the method ofthe present invention, including both natural and synthetic cellulosicfabrics, and also fabrics made of synthetic linear polyamides or resintype materials.

The impregnant applied to the fabric may either be of the thermosettingtype or may be of a type adapted to react with the material of which thefabric is formed so long as it is capable of fixing the finishing effectafter delivery of the fabric from the carrier blanket, for instance, bypassage thereof through the oven or curer, such as indicated at 6.

The specific form of impregnation equipment employed is not here ofconcern, but it is desirable that following impregnation the fabric bedried to a moist condition, for instance, to a condition containing fromabout 2% to about 18% water, as compared with the bone dry fabric.Excessive moisture in the fabric delivered to the carrier blanket is tobe avoided, so as to minimize transfer of impregnant to the blanket.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3, the fabric F is fed to acarrier blanket 8a in the region of the supporting roller 9a and passesthence in contact with the surface of the drying drum 10a in a mannersimilar to that described above with reference to Figure 1. Here,however, the shoes referred to in the description of Figures 1 and 2 arenot employed and the diameter of the blanket supporting roller 9a and/orthe thickness of the blanket 8a are so selected as to provide somespacing between the blanket and the surface of the drying drum in theregion where the blanket passes from the supporting roller 90 to thedrying drum 10a.

In the embodiment of Figure 3, after delivery of the fabric from thefirst drying drum (19a), the fabric may be delivered to the blanket 8bof a second unit incorporating drying drum 10b. The blanket supportingroller 9b of the second unit and/or the thickness of the blanket 8bthereof is also selected to provide the spacing from the surface of thedrying drum aforementioned.

It will be observed from inspection of Figure 3 that the threading pathof the fabric through the two drying drum units is such as to bring oneface of the fabric into contact with drying drum 10a and the oppositeface of the fabric into contact with drying drum 10b. Thus thearrangement of Figure 3 provides for the imparting of the luster effectto both surfaces of the fabric. If the finish effect is desired on onlyone surface of the fabric, only one finishing machine of the kind shownin Fig ure 3 need be used.

It will be understood that as in the arrangement of Figure 1, the fabricis preliminarily impregnated with the desired impregnant, dried, andthen delivered to the first b1anket-and-drum-unit, and also thatfollowing delivery of the fabric from the second blanket-and'drumunit,the fabric is passed through a suitable curer in order to heat theimpregnated and lusterized fabric and thereby fix the lusterized effect.In addition, it will also be understood that, as in the arrangement ofFigure 1, the desired blanket pressure against the drums 10a and 1% maybe established by appropriate adjustment of the blanket tension.

In comparing Figures 1 and 3 it should be observed that there is adifference with respect to the use of the pressure shoes 15, such shoesbeing present in Figure 1 but absent in Figure 3. The pressure shoes arefrequently employed in compressive shrinkage operations and whenoperating in accordance with Figure 1, some compressive shrinkage mayoccur, although, as above indicated, the adjustments of shoe pressure,fabric feed speed, drum speed, etc. are preferably such as to impartlittle, if any, compressive shrinkage even in the case of use of suchshoes, as in Figure 1. In the arrangement of Figure 3 still lesstendency toward compressive shrinkage is present because of the spacingof the blanket supporting rolls 9a and 9b so as to leave at least somefree run of the blankets as they approach the surfaces of the dry ingdrums.

Turning now to the embodiment of Figure 4, there is here shown a machineof the type incorporating a carrier blanket 18 of substantial thickness,say of the order of 2", constructed, for example, of soft rubber. Thisblanket passes over a supporting roller 19 and from thereto the surfaceof the drying drum 20, and thence over suitable rollers to complete thecircuit back to the supporting roller 19. In this instance the exteriorsurface of the blanket may be cooled as by the spray device 21 locatedat a point beyond the point where the fabric web leaves the blanket. Incommon withthe arrangement of Figure 1, the arrangement of Figure 4 alsoprovides for the imparting of the finish effect to one surface only ofthe fabric web.

The rubber blanket type of machine may be used in combination with oneor more fabric type of blanket unit, such as those shown in Figures 1and 3, the fabric being passed sequentially through the rubber blanketmachine and then through the other units. In this way modified effectsas to both luster and also shrinkage are obtainable.

As to both of the arrangements of Figures 3 and 4, it should beunderstood that similar conditions of blanket pressure and drying drumtemperature should be employed. With regard to the matter of pressure itis to be noted that ordinarily the type of blanket machine illustratedin Figures 1 and 3 would be operated to provide a blanket pressureagainst the drying drum of the order of from a few ounces per squareinch up to about 1 lb. per square inch. Where higher per square inchpressures are desired, running for example, up to about 3 lbs. persquare inch, these pressures may be obtained by the employment of therubber blanket type of unit generally illustrated in Figure 4.

Subsequent to the 'final curing step contemplated in accordance with allembodiments, the fabric may be passed through the same or a similarmachine with adjustments adapted to effect compressive shrinkage.

According to the foregoing, an attractive, durable, subtle or subduedluster effect may readily be applied to a fabric by the use of known andcommonly avail able equipment. Moreover, the invention not only providesfor the imparting of a durable lusterized finish but further providesfor the production of such a finished fabric having good shrinkagecharacteristics, as by the subsequent passage of the surface finishedand cured fabric through a compressive shrinkage machine, which may evenbe the same machine as employed to impart the luster.

The methodof the invention may also be applied to fabrics which havereceived a pressure mechanical finish treatment after the impregnationand partial drying steps. The pressure mechanical treatment may consistof glazing, embossing, or the like, and in this event the subtle natedfabric, drying the fabric to a moisture content of from 2% to 18%feeding the thus dried moist fabric to a carrier blanket, while carryingfrom 2% to 18% moisture, and with the blanket acting to maintain thefabric in pressure contact with a drying drum, the contact pressurebeing from 3.5 ounces to 3 pounds per square inch and the drumtemperature being from 230 F. to 300 F., to thereby impart a lusterizedsurface finish effect without substantial setting of the impregnant, andthereafter heating the fabric to set the impregnant and thereby fix thelusterized surface finish effect.

2. A method according to claim 1 and further including subjecting thefabric, after the heating to fix the lusterized effect, to compressiveshrinkage.

3. A method for imparting a durable lusterized surface finish effect tofabric comprising impregnating the fabric with an aqueous solution of animpregnant capable of setting to fix the finish effect upon heating ofthe impregnated fabric, drying the fabric to a moisture content of from2% to 18%, feeding the thus dried moist fabric to a carrier blanket,while carrying from 2% to 18% moisture, said blanket having a path oftravel including a curved run established by a blanket supporting rolland having an immediately following reversely curved run established bya drying drum, the fabric being fed to the outside surface of thecarrier blanket adjacent the start of said first curved run and beingfed with the blanket through said first curved run and therebeyondbetween the blanket and said drum, applying pressure to the fabric tomaintain it in intimate engagement with the blanket in said first curvedrun substantially up to the point of delivery of the fabric to saiddrum, said drum being heated to .a temperature between 230 F. and 300 F.and said blanket acting to maintain the fabric in contact with the drumunder pressures of from 3.5 ounces to 3 pounds per square inch, dryingthe fabric by heat transfer from said drum, to thereby impart alusterized surface finish efifect without substantial setting of theirnpregnant, and thereafter heating the fabric to set the impregnant andthereby fix the lusterized surface finish effect.

4. A method according to claim 3 and further including heating thefabric during application of pressure in said first curved run.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,428,064 Schuler Sept. 5, 1922 2,121,005 Bener June 2l, 1938 2,526,318Battin Oct. 17, 1950

1. A METHOD FOR IMPARTING A DURABLE LUSTERIZED SURFACE FINISH EFFECT TOFABRIC COMPRISING IMPREGNATING THE FABRIC WITH AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION OF ANIMPREGNANT CAPABLE OF SETTING TO FIX THE FINISH EFFECT UPON HEATING OFTHE IMPREGNATED FABRIC, DRYING THE FABRIC TO A MOISTURE CONTENT OF FROM2% TO 18% FEEDING THE THUS DRIED MOIST FABRIC TO A CARRIER BLANKET,WHILE CARRYING FROM 2% TO 18% MOISTURE, AND WITH THE BLANKET ACTING TOMAINTAIN THE FABRIC IN PRESSURE CONTACT WITH A DRYING DRUM, THE CONTACTPRESSURE BEING FROM 3.5 OUNCES TO 3 POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH AND THE DRUMTEMPERATURE BEING FROM 230*F. TO 300*F., TO THEREBY IMPART A LUSTERIZEDSURFACE FINISH EFFECT WITHOUT SUBSTANTIAL SETTING OF THE IMPREGNANT, ANDTHEREAFTER HEATING THE FABRIC TO SET THE IMPREGNANT AND THEREBY FIX THELUSTERIZED SURFACE FINISH EFFECT.